From Audu Joe, Lokoja
In a bid to strengthen the peaceful co-existence in the state, Actionaid Nigeria in collaboration with Participation Initiative For Behavioral Change in Development, (PIBCID) has began the training of 500 youths against violence extremism in Kogi State.
The 500 youths who are expected to stay together in a peace camp in Lokoja according to the organizers will be drilled on the need to be an advocate of peace building and to ensure harmonious working relationship irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
Speaking at opening ceremony of the 2021 peace camp, the Director Organization Effectiveness in Actionaid Nigeria, Mrs Funmilayo Oyefusi said the organization expect to build the physical, emotional, and the intellectual capacity of the participants adding that participants would be able to stand as an independent peace ambassador in their various community.
Oyefusi who is also the camp director of this year edition of Actionaid Nigeria peace camp said the participant will be economically dependant for themselves adding that when they are empowered economically and socially, youths will not be recruited in conflicts or involved in violence extremism.
Halima Sadiq, in her remarks noted that the essence of the peace camp is to raise peace champions across the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State.
” This is the third edition of the peace camp in Kogi State. This youths in the next five working days and seven camping days will be taken through diverse training skills. They will be taken on peace building, conflict resolution, and skill acquisitions. By the time they get to their various community, they would have become peace ambassadors. So that this people can serve as a mediator when it comes to peace resolution to prevent violence extremism” she said.
While declaring the peace camp open, the Kogi State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development Idris Musa lauded Actionaid for their impacts in the society stressing that, participants should translate what they have learnt in the camp to the outside world.
According to him, there is need to enhance good morale adding that, when there is absence of peace, there will be crisis.
The Commissioner also applauded the State Government under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello for his proactive steps in securing the State.
Continuing, Idris said ” in Nigeria today, there is insecurity everywhere. There is massive kidnapping in other state but we are not witnessing it here in Kogi State. I made bold to say this that Kogi State is 100 percent safe. Kudos, to Governor Bello, because he means well for our State”.